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Strength in Weakness

We have probably all said one or all of these statements at some point in our lives. But that’s fine, the fact is, we are human. We make mistakes, and we struggle. We get fooled in to this false sense that if we are struggling, we are failing. I see it with pupils (and staff) all the time; and it can be really upsetting; and I just want to shout… that is not the case.

As Human’s we are made to be in relationship…

With each other. What might be my weakness may be someone else’s strength. I am very good at trying to do everything myself; this inevitably leads to me getting completely and utterly wiped out. I have had to LEARN, and I mean LEARN, that I need to ask for help. I am not invincible and actually I need to work with other people.

As Human’s we really are stronger when we are working together. Yes, we each have our own giftings which mean we need each other. But also when someone is going through a tough time, we are able to be their help and support at that time. Whether that is to give physical help; giving advice; being an ear to listen; or being there to be ‘normal’ when things in their life are not. We can be the strength for each other when we can’t find it for ourselves.

Jesus asked for help; whether that was asking if anyone had any food so he could feed 5000 people; or whether it was allowing someone else to carry the cross for him, because he did not have the strength to do it.

We need to ask for help when we need it; but more importantly, I think, we need to accept help when it is offered rather than being martyrs.

2. With God. God didn’t need to create human’s, but he chose to, because he wanted to be in relationship with us. How awesome! Our promise this week comes from Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians

My grace is enough; it’s all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness.

How FANTASTIC is that promise? God is our strength in our weakness. If I’m honest the main thing I love is that it actually states that I am going to be weak! God doesn’t expect me to be invincible so why do I expect it of myself?

But what is this promise saying? Through God’s grace, he came to earth, he suffered, he rose again, in order for us to be reunited with Him. And because of that he is there for us and he is strong for us, when we can’t do it anymore.

God’s strength is there all the time, but we may not recognise it, But there will be times when all we can do is to shout out to God and ask him for help, and it is then that his strength comes into it’s own and we see it for what it is. Suddenly, what we thought was impossible, because we couldn’t see how we could carry on, is possible because God is being the strength we need. I don’t think it will always be supernatural strength, but sometimes God will provide those around us to be our strength and our support.

My Granny’s favourite poem, which I read at her funeral, was Footprints. If you haven’t read it, please do, and I always remember the part where it talking about during the hardest parts of the life there was only one set of footprints, why did God abandon at that point? God didn’t abandon, that was when God carried.

Once again though, we cannot just expect God to be our strength, we need to recognise that we need help; and we need to come to God. Below is a link to a song which talks about this verse, and the idea that we need to fall at God’s feet – quite a powerful idea.

Challenge: Look out for those who need help and support this week. Look at what you are doing and see if you need to ask others for help. Listen to the song, sit at God’s feet and ask him to be your strength.

Prayer: Father God, we thank you that you sent your son, so that we may be able to come and sit at your feet. We pray that we will not try to do things in our own strength but that when we are struggling we will come to you and to seek you. Amen.